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What can be done for the Weber game?

bigtyme said:
Here is the bluf. Attendance for UM sports (naturally football) is largely from out of towners. The majority of big sports fans in Missoula have conflicting interests with HS sports or rapid expansion of tv games. HS football is not typically a conflict in Missoula for those that are football fans. So with these combinations it is true that unless you are absolutely a die hard Griz bball fan it is unlikely that you will go to every game in Missoula. Which is also the reason why you see the majority of bball faithful in the upper echelons of age. When HS playoffs are over and HS bball players and fans don't have conflicts of interest the games are higher attended. So the solution to this is first and foremost, better marketing, an actual vision from the bball side of the AD so that people that would normally not partake are able to buy in for the future, and move the stinking bucket seats off the east side of the arena for the students to enjoy themselves. If the students create a ruckus atmosphere, then younger fans that see the vision will also be more likely to join in on a regular basis. Pulling fans from the FHV or Helena or Butte seem to be the most difficult task in this picture. It would be interesting to see the attendance numbers for Saturday night games versus Thursday night games. I love getting over to the games and partaking in crowd noise when I can, but not living in Missoula, traveling for work, and having a 16 month old definitely take precedence. It starts with having a vision.
Click to expand...

it is going to start with moving the students...I know it's been talked about a lot, but football atmosphere thrives because of reputation. It's what's expected. Until they find out how to get rid of all the people who have had season tickets since the great depression, and replace them with rowdy, drunken college kids....it ain't gonna change. And that's too bad, because if we ever have a shot of keeping Tinkle, we are going to have to pay him more, and give him and his team a type of support that he feels he can't walk away from. Also, they deserve it.
 
It may not be generally known, but Dennison admitted in an email that there had been a study made to construct a new 13,000 arena, but the $50 million price tag favored the Adams remodel instead at a cost pared down to $16 million from an original estimate of $24 million.The original cost to build the Adams Fieldhouse was a paltry $800,000. So much for foresight...and inflation
 
Silvertip said:
It may not be generally known, but Dennison admitted in an email that there had been a study made to construct a new 13,000 arena, but the $50 million price tag favored the Adams remodel instead at a cost pared down to $16 million from an original estimate of $24 million.The original cost to build the Adams Fieldhouse was a paltry $800,000. So much for foresight...and inflation
Click to expand...
Really? Wow!
 
I agree that the largest problem for attendance is the scheduling.

In football, a person can have all week to look forward to and plan their trip to the game on the weekend. There are only about 6-7 regular season home games to attend for football. In basketball, there might be three games in one week (two during the weekdays). There are 15 regular season home games in basketball this year. It's the winter and not the fall. Overall, people tend to stay in more. There are no tailgates (besides beckers new attempts that hopefully stick) or after-parties at the Adams Center (that I know of). In football, it can be an all day event (the event of the week, even). In basketball, people show up not long before tip-off and don't stay long after the game.

Now, all that is just how it is. We can't change the season bball is played in and there are bound to be games during the week with how many games there are to be played.

:lol: It seems like, for most people, making a football game is like landing a date with the "perfect 10" girl you've been obsessing about the last year, whereas, attending a bball game is more like a blind date or sympathy date with your friend. Both are fun and worth your time. However, one you actually look forward to and the other is just something to fill your evening and it's better than sitting at home. ;)

So, what can we do to drive attendance and make people more passionate about UM basketball? It has been said that if the Griz win the fans will come. Obviously, while we can support our team and help energize them in that respect, the team ultimately determines their own success (and really, the team's performance over the last couple seasons should be enough for people to really get behind this team already). The Griz have been successful and exciting enough (they are athletic, skilled shooters, tenacious defenders and for the most part, play an uptempo game). Yet, they still lack a deserving following.

So, again, what is in our power as fans (or even administrators, if they happen to read eGriz) to help generate support for this team?

Back to my poor dating analogy, I think the biggest thing is to make the games something everyone looks forward to. I had a coach who once told me that the more you invest yourself in something, the more passionate you will be about it and consequently, the more precious or valuable your reward will be (or the more impact it will have on you). Obviously, he was referring to the amount of dedication to training and the resulting emotions after a season's completion. But it can be applied in this situation, as well.

To have the games be meaningful and special to the fans, the fans need to feel they are a part of the program.

I'm not talking about having races or those silly games to get on the court during timeouts or other breaks. I'm talking about creating a sense of belonging. One poster mentioned feeling appreciated and inspired when Tinks walked off the court clapping and pointing to the crowd. In football, many took pride in ESPN or other media personnel gushing about the noise in WaGriz and the way it affects the game with false starts. Having fan or student specific gear and merchandise available is a good start. Make being part of the "Zoo Crew" (or whatever) something that is special and one brags about to their friends.

I had a cousin that went to Wazzu and was one of the die-hards that took a lot of pride in being at the games. Her student section had chants and songs that they remembered and shouted in unison throughout the games. Maybe creating unique chants that can unite the crowd would help (a la "First Down...Montana" and "Montana...Grizzlies" in football). Even if someone is creative enough to have a great cheer, it still might not be heard or gain momentum if the person is too shy to share it or the people around them are initially too resistent to it. So, maybe the school could have a contest where everybody could submit their ideas, review them, and then put the top ones on the board so everybody can partake in them. Get non-fans excited to submit something by offering prizes or free food to the top cheers.

Here's Utah State's "I believe" chant
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44YUnOoye58[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44YUnOoye58

Even if nobody comes up with a catchy cheer, the main thing is to get everybody on the same page so we can feed off each other. Look at this entrance...nothing too complicated but is effective because it's done in unison:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pucr3xOg050[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pucr3xOg050

That same group enjoys themselves so much that they were at the game an hour in advance, stretching.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXhKaoiAMNI[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXhKaoiAMNI

Once again, fan involvement (everybody seems to be doing the same dance)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEuAYQ3q7kw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEuAYQ3q7kw

Another thing that I noticed in large fanbases is they always have loveable or unique characters that provide extra entertainment for those that might not be die-hards, yet. Obviously, a good mascot helps but football has also had GGG, the cookie guy, cotton-eye joe guy, Santa in the playoffs, etc. Basketball has only had (that I'm aware of) the tuba guy that always had me laughing and further back, Fat Joe.

Here's Duke's Speedo Guy
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PEXG0mZKcw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PEXG0mZKcw

Here's Moses parting the Red Sea
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Zc6sJT8I2bw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Zc6sJT8I2bw

Haha I love the guy @ :53
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AdNk3wpyWE[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AdNk3wpyWE

Students should love to play fantasy, dress up, and act crazy. Maybe the school should also have a contest or tryout for a student section leader that starts the chants like the green man in the 2nd and 3rd videos or the guy in this video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhfsT0G87uU[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhfsT0G87uU

Obviously, the cheer squad is doing cheers and trying to get the crowd involved, but by being an organization in the university, they can't be as wild or crazy as some individuals out of the student section could be.

Oh, and speaking of being crazy, if nothing else gets the crowd going, someone could start a fire in the stands or cover the court at tip-off with paper. :o :lol:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvAOpnnMK0[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvAOpnnMK0

Anyways, those are a few ideas (more long-term and probably nothing that can be done by the Weber game). Sorry to be so long-winded but I really want to see the reestablishment of the Zoo! :thumb:
 
Oh, and back to the topic of having bball tailgates. I wonder if any local Missoula businesses would have a company party or sponsor a tailgate at a bball game. It would be a good opportunity to advertise, combine business with entertainment, and get some people out to a game that might not have come otherwise.
 
Game against Weber just posted on Facebook, so if you have one get inviting people:
https://www.facebook.com/events/470855232976476/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, lots of good ideas DoubleNicks, you may see some costumes on Saturday now.
 
DoubleNicks said:
I agree that the largest problem for attendance is the scheduling.

In football, a person can have all week to look forward to and plan their trip to the game on the weekend. There are only about 6-7 regular season home games to attend for football. In basketball, there might be three games in one week (two during the weekdays). There are 15 regular season home games in basketball this year. It's the winter and not the fall. Overall, people tend to stay in more. There are no tailgates (besides beckers new attempts that hopefully stick) or after-parties at the Adams Center (that I know of). In football, it can be an all day event (the event of the week, even). In basketball, people show up not long before tip-off and don't stay long after the game.

Now, all that is just how it is. We can't change the season bball is played in and there are bound to be games during the week with how many games there are to be played.

:lol: It seems like, for most people, making a football game is like landing a date with the "perfect 10" girl you've been obsessing about the last year, whereas, attending a bball game is more like a blind date or sympathy date with your friend. Both are fun and worth your time. However, one you actually look forward to and the other is just something to fill your evening and it's better than sitting at home. ;)

So, what can we do to drive attendance and make people more passionate about UM basketball? It has been said that if the Griz win the fans will come. Obviously, while we can support our team and help energize them in that respect, the team ultimately determines their own success (and really, the team's performance over the last couple seasons should be enough for people to really get behind this team already). The Griz have been successful and exciting enough (they are athletic, skilled shooters, tenacious defenders and for the most part, play an uptempo game). Yet, they still lack a deserving following.

So, again, what is in our power as fans (or even administrators, if they happen to read eGriz) to help generate support for this team?

Back to my poor dating analogy, I think the biggest thing is to make the games something everyone looks forward to. I had a coach who once told me that the more you invest yourself in something, the more passionate you will be about it and consequently, the more precious or valuable your reward will be (or the more impact it will have on you). Obviously, he was referring to the amount of dedication to training and the resulting emotions after a season's completion. But it can be applied in this situation, as well.

To have the games be meaningful and special to the fans, the fans need to feel they are a part of the program.

I'm not talking about having races or those silly games to get on the court during timeouts or other breaks. I'm talking about creating a sense of belonging. One poster mentioned feeling appreciated and inspired when Tinks walked off the court clapping and pointing to the crowd. In football, many took pride in ESPN or other media personnel gushing about the noise in WaGriz and the way it affects the game with false starts. Having fan or student specific gear and merchandise available is a good start. Make being part of the "Zoo Crew" (or whatever) something that is special and one brags about to their friends.

I had a cousin that went to Wazzu and was one of the die-hards that took a lot of pride in being at the games. Her student section had chants and songs that they remembered and shouted in unison throughout the games. Maybe creating unique chants that can unite the crowd would help (a la "First Down...Montana" and "Montana...Grizzlies" in football). Even if someone is creative enough to have a great cheer, it still might not be heard or gain momentum if the person is too shy to share it or the people around them are initially too resistent to it. So, maybe the school could have a contest where everybody could submit their ideas, review them, and then put the top ones on the board so everybody can partake in them. Get non-fans excited to submit something by offering prizes or free food to the top cheers.

Here's Utah State's "I believe" chant
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44YUnOoye58[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44YUnOoye58

Even if nobody comes up with a catchy cheer, the main thing is to get everybody on the same page so we can feed off each other. Look at this entrance...nothing too complicated but is effective because it's done in unison:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pucr3xOg050[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pucr3xOg050

That same group enjoys themselves so much that they were at the game an hour in advance, stretching.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXhKaoiAMNI[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXhKaoiAMNI

Once again, fan involvement (everybody seems to be doing the same dance)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEuAYQ3q7kw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEuAYQ3q7kw

Another thing that I noticed in large fanbases is they always have loveable or unique characters that provide extra entertainment for those that might not be die-hards, yet. Obviously, a good mascot helps but football has also had GGG, the cookie guy, cotton-eye joe guy, Santa in the playoffs, etc. Basketball has only had (that I'm aware of) the tuba guy that always had me laughing and further back, Fat Joe.

Here's Duke's Speedo Guy
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PEXG0mZKcw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PEXG0mZKcw

Here's Moses parting the Red Sea
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Zc6sJT8I2bw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Zc6sJT8I2bw

Haha I love the guy @ :53
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AdNk3wpyWE[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AdNk3wpyWE

Students should love to play fantasy, dress up, and act crazy. Maybe the school should also have a contest or tryout for a student section leader that starts the chants like the green man in the 2nd and 3rd videos or the guy in this video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhfsT0G87uU[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhfsT0G87uU

Obviously, the cheer squad is doing cheers and trying to get the crowd involved, but by being an organization in the university, they can't be as wild or crazy as some individuals out of the student section could be.

Oh, and speaking of being crazy, if nothing else gets the crowd going, someone could start a fire in the stands or cover the court at tip-off with paper. :o :lol:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvAOpnnMK0[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvAOpnnMK0

Anyways, those are a few ideas (more long-term and probably nothing that can be done by the Weber game). Sorry to be so long-winded but I really want to see the reestablishment of the Zoo! :thumb:
Click to expand...
Those are all awesome, but this one is my favorite! Its really easy and the song is catchy! (and fun)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw2IhnxXoKg[/youtube]
 
Nicks,

Good post. I really believe that if more Montanans could feel the excitement and the energy that comes from a packed arena full of raucus basketball fans, I don't think we'd have to worry about attendance any further, and we might be talking about the "East Side Maniacs" as reverently as we refer to the NEZ Crazies now.
 
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